Performing Arts, Literature and Philosophy — Practice Questions
UPSC Prelims-pattern practice questions on Indian performing arts, literature and philosophy — UNESCO heritage, Manipuri, Carnatic Trinity, Vedanta, theatre forms.
Questions
These are original UPSC-pattern practice questions. Attempt each one before revealing the answer.
Which of the following are inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from India?
- Garba of Gujarat
- Kalbelia
- Bihu
- Mudiyettu
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Solution
Garba of Gujarat (2023), Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan (2010) and Mudiyettu, the ritual theatre of Kerala (2010), are on the list. Bihu of Assam, though widely known, is not among India’s inscribed elements as of 2023.
Answer: A
Consider the following statements about Manipuri dance:
- Dancers do not wear ankle bells.
- Its themes draw heavily on the Ras Lila of Radha and Krishna.
- It was recognised as a classical dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Statements 1 and 2 are correct — Manipuri is known for gentle, rounded movements without ankle bells, and for Vaishnava Ras Lila themes alongside the older ritual Lai Haraoba. Statement 3 is wrong — the form recognised as classical in 2000 is Sattriya of Assam.
Answer: C
Which one of the following is not one of the Trinity of Carnatic music?
Solution
The Trinity — Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri — were all born in Thiruvarur in the 18th century. Purandara Dasa (15th–16th century) is the Pitamaha (grandfather) of Carnatic music, but not part of the Trinity.
Answer: B
Consider the following pairs:
| School of Vedanta | Teacher |
|---|---|
| 1. Advaita | Shankaracharya |
| 2. Vishishtadvaita | Madhvacharya |
| 3. Dvaita | Ramanuja |
| 4. Shuddhadvaita | Vallabhacharya |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Solution
Pairs 1 and 4 are correct. Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) belongs to Ramanuja, and Dvaita (dualism) to Madhvacharya — pairs 2 and 3 swap them.
Answer: B
Which one of the following pairs of theatre form and State is not correctly matched?
Solution
Jatra is the open-air musical theatre of Bengal and Odisha, not Kerala. Yakshagana (Karnataka), Bhavai (Gujarat) and Tamasha (Maharashtra) are correctly matched. Kerala’s forms include Koodiyattam and Mudiyettu.
Answer: D
Mains
Indian philosophical tradition was marked more by debate and dissent than by dogma. Discuss with reference to the astika and nastika schools.
Solution
Introduction: Indian schools of thought are classified as astika (accepting Vedic authority) and nastika (rejecting it). Both developed through argument — each school stated an opponent’s view (purvapaksha) before refuting it.
Body:
- Within the astika fold: Samkhya’s dualism versus Vedanta’s monism; Mimamsa’s ritualism versus the Upanishadic search for knowledge; Nyaya’s rigorous logic used by many schools; Vedanta itself divided into Advaita (Shankara), Vishishtadvaita (Ramanuja) and Dvaita (Madhva).
- Nastika challenges: Buddhism denied a permanent self and questioned ritual and caste; Jainism’s anekantavada held that truth has many sides; Charvaka accepted only perception and rejected the afterlife; Ajivikas argued for determinism.
- Institutions of debate: royal assemblies and monasteries (Nalanda) hosted disputations; commentaries carried arguments across centuries.
- Continuity: the tradition of reasoned dissent fed into the Bhakti saints’ questioning of ritual and later reformers.
Conclusion: India’s philosophical heritage is a long conversation rather than a single creed — a resource for pluralism and tolerance in public life today.